Monster Tree Service of North Charlotte built its reputation on being professional, courteous, and on time. From routine pruning and shaping to emergency removals and storm damage cleanup, the work is varied, physically demanding, and completely dependent on a reliable fleet of vehicles and equipment.
It’s also one of the most dangerous industries in the country. As Business Owner Chris Brown notes: “OSHA has identified tree care as being the most dangerous profession in the US.”
Operating heavy machinery in high-risk environments means equipment condition isn’t just a cost issue — it’s a safety issue. For Chris, keeping his crew safe is the top priority, and that starts with knowing the condition of every piece of equipment before it goes out on a job.
The Challenge: Paper Processes That Nobody Used
Before Whip Around, Monster Tree Service ran their repair and maintenance program on paper. In practice, that meant the system was rarely used at all.
“If you found something wrong, it basically just didn’t get done that day,” says crew leader Sal.
There was no feedback loop. Managers had no reliable way to know whether scheduled maintenance had actually been completed, what condition equipment was in before it left for a job, or what damage had occurred in the field. The team was operating largely on hope.
“There was no feedback loop to know if the maintenance was actually done. We just had to hope it was being done,” says Chris Brown.
General Manager Zach Connell puts it plainly: “The old process was like the stone ages.”
The consequences were predictable — reactive repairs, unplanned downtime, and a growing exposure to safety risks that a company operating in the most dangerous profession in the US couldn’t afford.
The Solution: Real-Time Visibility from the Field to the Dashboard
Monster Tree Service deployed Whip Around to replace paper with a connected, real-time system across their vehicles, equipment, and job sites.
Drivers and crew leaders now complete custom digital inspections through Whip Around’s mobile app — covering trucks, heavy equipment, and onsite safety assessments. The moment an inspection is submitted, managers receive the report in the Whip Around dashboard. If a defect is flagged, they know about it within minutes of it happening in the field — not the next morning, not at the end of the week.
That real-time defect information has changed how the team responds to issues. Parts can be ordered faster, repair scheduling is no longer reactive, and equipment with safety concerns can be pulled before it creates a risk for the crew.
Maintenance scheduling, automated alerts, and service reminders give managers the visibility to plan equipment allocation around jobs and optimize maintenance downtime — getting more done while assets are already in for service.
The Outcome: Safer Crews, Lower Costs, Happier Customers
- 3,716 defects caught before they became breakdowns
- 1,488 days of potential downtime prevented
- 10,662 total inspections completed
The shift from paper to Whip Around has touched every part of the operation.
Equipment that was previously “really put through the wringer” — as Chris describes the demands of tree care work — now has a complete inspection and maintenance history. Managers know what’s been done, what’s due, and what condition every asset is in before it leaves for a job.
The business has moved from reactive to proactive. Costly emergency repairs have been replaced by planned maintenance. Downtime is anticipated and managed rather than absorbed as a surprise.
And for Chris, the most important outcome is one he says he can’t put a number on.
“We genuinely care about the welfare of our employees, and Whip Around is helping us ensure that our employees are staying safe. That is something that I cannot put a number on.”
Monster Tree Service of North Charlotte is now a safer, more efficient operation — one that services happier customers and has the systems in place to stay that way.
Book a demo to see how Whip Around can help your fleet stay ahead of maintenance and keep your crew safe.
